MTA’s annual engineering challenge for school back for 2017

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) is to launch the 2017 edition of its flagship schools competition for young engineers, the Technology Design and Innovation (TDI) Challenge.

For over a decade the TDI Challenge has been shining a light on design and technology students aged 14-19. The national competition encourages students to submit their existing coursework projects, which would go towards either their GCSE, A-Level or BTEC qualifications.

Due to the success of previous years’ competitions, the TDI Challenge 2017 is being expanded to allow group entries. Laura Pickering, MTA education and development co-ordinator, explained: “Groups of three to six students will now be able to submit their projects in either the 14-16 or 17-19 age group category, as we feel the TDI Challenge is a great opportunity to encourage collaboration. We have previously received such a high standard of individual entries we’re excited to see what innovative ideas are submitted for both individual and group categories in 2017.”

Submissions for 2017 are now open and all entries must be received by 12th May 2017. An expert judging panel made up of the MTA’s Education & Development Committee will choose the 12 individual project finalists and the eight group finalists, who will be notified by 9th June 2017 if they have succeeded in being selected for the judging day.

The final itself will be held at the European Headquarters of MTA member Yamazaki Mazak at its facility in Worcester on 5th July 2017. The chosen finalists display their portfolio of work in Mazak's atrium, and give a brief presentation to the judging panel who will decide the overall prize winners.

The winner in each category will receive an individual prize (including iPads, GoPro cameras, Minirig speakers and drones) as well as a £1,000 voucher for their school to spend on design and technology equipment for the classroom.

MTA www.mta.org.uk/tdi

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